Information input device, information output device, information processing system, and computer-readable recording medium

Abstract

The present invention is concerning to an information processing system includes an information input device and an information output device. The information input device includes a communication module that establishes communication with one or more information output devices, an information acquiring module that acquires device information of the respective information output devices including an identification code used only for identifying the information output device and makes a storage module store therein the device information, an input receiving module that receives an entry of an identification code, and a device specifying module that searches the device information acquired from the respective information output devices to specify the information output device to which the information is to be transmitted based on the identification code received and gives instructions to the communication module to transmit the information using the device information of the information output device specified.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An information input device that performs a process of transmitting information to an information output device to make the information output device output the information, the information input device comprising:
 a communication module configured to establish communication with information output devices; 
 an information acquiring module configured to acquire device information of the respective information output devices including an identification code used only for identifying each of the information output devices; 
 an input receiving module configured to receive an entry of an identification code from a user; and 
 a device specifying module configured to
 search the device information acquired from the respective information output devices for device information including an identification code that matches the identification code received by the input receiving module, 
 acquire, from the device information including the identification code that matches the identification code entered by the user, required information required to establish a connection and communicate with an identified information output device identified by the identification code entered by the user, and 
 give instructions to the communication module to transmit the information using the required information to the identified information output device, 
 
 wherein the information acquiring module acquires the identification codes from the respective information output devices to communicate with one or more of the respective information output devices. 
 
     
     
       2. The information input device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the communication module detects a signal including the device information transmitted by the identified information output device at a specific time interval, and establishes communication with the identified information output device. 
 
     
     
       3. The information input device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the input receiving module makes a display device display an entry screen having only a single entry window for entering the identification code. 
 
     
     
       4. The information input device according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the entry window permits an address of or a device name of the identified information output device to be entered in place of the identification code. 
 
     
     
       5. The information input device according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the entry screen has a plurality of entry windows for entering a plurality of identification codes, the addresses, or the device names. 
 
     
     
       6. An information output device that performs a process of displaying information received from the information input device according to  claim 1 , the information output device comprising:
 an identification code generator configured to generate an identification code that is used only for identifying the information output device using assignment information assigned to the information output device or input information entered; 
 a communication module configured to transmit device information of the information output device including the identification code as a signal at a specific time interval, and establish communication with the information input device; and 
 a display module configured to display the information received from the information input device by the communication module. 
 
     
     
       7. The information output device according to  claim 6 , wherein
 the display module displays the identification code generated so as to be entered in the information input device. 
 
     
     
       8. The information output device according to  claim 6 , wherein
 the assignment information is a MAC address or a production number. 
 
     
     
       9. The information output device according to  claim 6 , wherein
 the communication module acquires one or more pieces of device information of one or more other information output devices from the other information output devices, and 
 the identification code generator checks whether or not the identification code generated is duplicative of one or more identification codes included in the one or more pieces of device information acquired and modifies, when the identification code is duplicative, the identification code to not be duplicative of the one or more identification codes included in the one or more pieces of information. 
 
     
     
       10. The information output device according to  claim 9 , further comprising a notifying module configured to give, when the identification code is duplicative, notice of the identification code being duplicative. 
     
     
       11. An information processing system including:
 an information input device that performs a process of transmitting information to an information output device to make the information output device output the information, the information input device comprising:
 a communication module configured to establish communication with information output devices; 
 
 an information acquiring module configured to acquire device information of the respective information output devices including an identification code used only for identifying each of the information output devices; 
 an input receiving module configured to receive an entry of an identification code from a user; and 
 a device specifying module configured to
 search the device information acquired from the respective information output devices for device information including an identification code that matches the identification code entered by the user, 
 acquire, from the device information including the identification code that matches the identification code entered by the user, required information required to establish a connection and communicate with an identified information output device identified by the identification code entered by the user, and 
 
 give instructions to the communication module to transmit the information using the required information to the identified information output device, 
 wherein the information acquiring module acquires the identification codes from the respective information output devices to communicate with one or more of the respective information output devices, and 
 wherein the information processing system further includes one or more information output devices according to  claim 6 . 
 
     
     
       12. The information processing system according to  claim 11 , further comprises a server configured to provide information, wherein
 the server holds an identification code used only for identifying the server, and 
 the information input device receives the information provided from the server and transmits the information to the information output device to make the information output device display the information in response to receiving an entry of the identification code of the server and an entry of the identification code of the identified information output device. 
 
     
     
       13. The information processing system according to  claim 11 , further comprises a storage medium configured to store therein information, wherein
 the storage medium holds an identification code used only for identifying the storage medium, and 
 the information input device acquires the information from the storage medium and transmits the information to the information output device to make the information output device display the information in response to receiving an entry of the identification code of the storage medium and an entry of the identification code of the identified information output device. 
 
     
     
       14. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium that contains computer-readable instructions that when executed by an information processing system including an information input device that includes a computer and transmits information and an information output device that outputs the information received, causes the computer included in the information processing system to perform a method comprising:
 establishing communication between the information input device and information output devices; 
 acquiring device information of the respective information output devices including an identification code used only for identifying each of the information output devices; 
 receiving an entry of an identification code entered by a user; and 
 searching the device information acquired from the respective information output devices for device information including an identification code that matches the identification code entered by the user; 
 acquiring, from the device information including the identification code that matches the identification code entered by the user, required information required to establish a connection and communicate with an identified information output device identified by the identification code entered by the user; and 
 transmitting the information to the identified information output device using the required, information 
 wherein in the acquiring of the device information, the identification codes are acquired from the respective information output devices to communicate with one or more of the respective information output devices. 
 
     
     
       15. The information input device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a storage module that stores the device information acquired by the information acquiring module in a table that associates the device information, required information corresponding to the device information and corresponding identification codes. 
 
     
     
       16. The information input device according to  claim 15 , wherein the required information includes at least one of internet protocol (IP) addresses of the information output devices and names of the information output devices.